Council acknowledges we are on the ancestral lands of the Gunung-Willam-Balluk. Council passes on respect to the elders of traditional family clans, past and present.

Photo: Judith Woulfe, Herb Garden, Sunbury

“When you go out there into the wilderness you don’t get away from it all, you get back to it all. You come home to what’s

important. You come home to yourself.”

- Peter Dombrovskis Internationally renowned Tasmanian wilderness photographer

LIVE GREENHume’s Environmental Newsletter WINTER 2013

www.hume.vic.gov.au

HUME CITY COUNCIL

Sustainability Report 2011-12 Now OnlineFind out how Hume is tracking towards becoming a sustainable municipality in our 2011-12 Sustainability Report.

Visit www.hume.vic.gov.au/Sustainable_Hume

What’s your low-energy usage tip for staying warm in winter?

Ebony Young, Westmeadows

‘My winter tip is to rug up - put more clothes on and grab a rug before turning up the heater.’

The Catchpole family, Greenvale

‘We got a new digital thermostat for our ducted heating - so it basically only comes on in the evenings if it gets below 18 degrees in the house. We also blocked the mesh vents above the bathroom windows - so we don’t have to turn the heater on to heat up the bathroom for the kids’ bath time.‘

Talking with our community

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Park it here at the Parkiteer!

What would you like Hume City to be like in 2040? And what do you like about living or doing business in Hume now? Any suggestions on how we can improve the sustainability of our City or enhance protection of our natural environment are most welcome.

We’re asking residents and businesses these and many more questions as we develop the new Community Plan, known as Hume Horizons 2040. The plan seeks to create a long-term vision for the community and provide a clear direction for Council’s on-going planning and service delivery.

Hume, what's your dream?

There are many ways you can have your say on the Community Plan – from dropping in at a ‘brewing our future’ coffee conversation, sending a postcard, posting on the online forum or attending a community workshop.

Visit www.hume.vic.gov.au/HumeHorizons for more details.

Do you find it hard to keep active during winter? Why not ride your bike to the station and make use of the Parkiteer bike cages to keep your bike safe? Not only will you feel the benefits of regular exercise, reduce your emissions and save on fuel – you’ll get the best parking spot every day!

Parkiteer bike cages are located at the following rail stations in Hume:

■ Broadmeadows ■ Coolaroo ■ Roxburgh Park ■ Craigieburn

Entry to the Parkiteer cage is by an electronic card system, providing 24 hour monitored access and a 24/7 user support helpline.

For more information and to register for an access card, contact Bicycle Network Victoria on 8376 8888 or visit www.bicyclenetwork.com.au/general/bikes-and-riding/93690/

LIVE GREEN WINTER 2013 3

Over 300 beautiful images were submitted for this year’s Hume In Focus Photo Competition, making judging an unenviable task! Twenty nine entrants captured the best of Hume’s native animals and plants, landscapes, sustainability practices and people interacting with our local environment.

Following the awards night in March, a travelling exhibition was displayed in Broadmeadows, Craigieburn and Sunbury.

A huge congratulations to all the entrants for submitting such professional-quality images taken with sensitivity and local insight, creating a priceless record of Hume’s natural beauty.

A few of these amazing images are below (including category winners and runners up) but you can also view over 100 images in our on-line gallery. Visit www.hume.vic.gov.au/environmentgetinvolved

Local talent unearthed at Hume in Focus Photography Awards Night

The winners and runners up in each category are:

Native Animals in HumeWinner: Carmel Duggan Runner up: Sally Ryan

Native Plants in HumeWinner: Beverley Van Praagh Runner up: Beverley Van Praagh

Landscape and Waterways in HumeWinner: Carmel Duggan Equal runners up: Ian Logan, Andrew Haysom

Sustainability in HumeWinner: Beverley Van Praagh Runner up: Rachel McAllister

Community Interaction With The EnvironmentWinner: Lily Knight (aged 10)Runner up: Awes Amin

Carmel Duggan

Ian Logan

Peter Zuidema

Beverley Van Praagh

Andrew Haysom

Lily Knight

Awes Amin

Sally Ryan

Carmel Duggan

Beverley Van Praagh

Beverley Van Praagh

Rachel McAllister Darren Rooney

Small changes can slash your power billWith energy bills climbing, Hume’s Environmental Champions are helping local people make a dent in their power bills. Our local champions recently ran nine free workshops developed by the Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), to show local people simple, low-cost ways to change their living habits and save power.

They found that small changes make a big difference! Just by turning down your hot water thermostat by one degree you can cover the cost of your bread and milk for a whole week. For hot water storage systems you should set your thermostat to 60-65°C. And did you know that your fridge is the appliance that uses the most electricity? You can check that your fridge door seals properly by placing a strip of paper between the door and the frame. If the paper strip can be pulled out without resistance, then you probably need to fix the seal.

If your workplace has fridges containing soft drinks, alcohol or other non-perishable items you could install a timer to automatically switch it off when your business is closed. Hume City Councils’ Business Efficiency Network is offering Hume businesses free fridge timers to reduce their electricity use and save money. Email amadisl@hume.vic.gov.au to obtain a timer.

For more simple ways to save energy in all rooms of your house visit CSIRO’s Home Energy Saving web pages at www.csiro.au/saving-energy-in-your-home

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Switch electric heating to gas and score a $700 rebateTake advantage of the Victorian Government’s gas heater rebate to stay warm this winter and save money on your energy bills. The rebate means eligible concession card holders (including Healthcare, Pensioner and Concession cards) who are currently using electric heating can receive a $700 rebate on the purchase and installation cost of a gas space heater.

These cooler months often mean rising energy bills, with electric heaters being the most expensive to run. By replacing electric heaters with more efficient gas, you can save around $280 on your energy bills each year as well as reduce your carbon emissions.

For more information on the rebate, including eligibility requirements and participating suppliers, visit www.resourcesmart.vic.gov.au/rebates or call 1300 366 195.

Energy Rating Labels

When you shop for a wide range of electrical appliances and products - from televisions, fridges, freezers, washing machines, clothes dryers, dishwashers to air conditioners – you’ll see they have a number of stars on their energy rating labels. The more stars, the less power the product will use, with up to six stars for the most efficient products. The mandatory label also shows the product’s expected annual energy use (in kilowatt hours) which you can use to compare products. As a buyer, the labels give you the power to choose more efficient appliances and provide manufacturers with an incentive to make appliances more energy efficient.

For more information visit www.energyrating.gov.au

Water Rating Labels

Similar to energy, sellers of washing machines, dishwashers, showers, urinals, toilets and taps must display a water rating label on the product.

These labels show a rating of up to six stars and water use information depending on the product. Labels for washing machines, dishwashers and toilets show water use in litres per use; toilets show their full, half and average water use with each flush; tap and shower labels show the flow rate in litres per minute.

Greenictionary Seeing stars when buying appliances

App greenMeter

How fuel efficient is your driving? With the greenMeter smart phone application you can see your car fuel usage and receive feedback to adjust the way you drive. Remember not to use your phone while driving of course!

Website Energy made easy

The Australian Energy Regulator can help you understand your energy use and power bills and show you how to save energy to cut your bills.

www.energymadeeasy.gov.au

FilmBottled Life

When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990, Cuba’s economy went into a tailspin. With imports of oil cut by more than half and food imports cut by 80 per cent, people were desperate. This fascinating and empowering film shows how communities pulled together and created solutions in spite of the decreased availability of oil.

The Power of Community – How Cuba Survived Peak Oil www.thepowerofcommunity.org

Book Soil Not Oil: Climate Change, Peak Oil and Food Insecurity, Vandana Shiva

Climate change will dramatically alter how we live and is already affecting the lives of the world’s most vulnerable people. In Soil Not Oil, best-selling author Vandana Shiva connects the food crisis, peak oil, and climate change to show that a world beyond a dependence on fossil fuels is both possible and necessary.

LIVE GREEN WINTER 2013 5

Discounts on energy saving productsDid you know you can receive free or subsidised energy efficient products to help reduce your energy bills?

The Victorian Government’s Energy Saver Incentive offers discounts and special offers on certain energy saving products and appliances. Those businesses selling the products have been accredited by the Essential Services Commission to create Victorian energy efficiency certificates. These certificates have a dollar value, enabling the businesses to offer the discounted or free products.

A whole range of products for both home and work are eligible under the scheme, including lighting, stand-by power controllers, heating and cooling, hot water heating, insulation, TVs and fridges.

For more information, including a list of approved products and their suppliers in your area visit www.switchon.vic.gov.au/how-can-i-take-charge-of-my-power-bill/energy-saver-incentive

Cubs chasing frogs in local wetlandsBy Anna Lanigan, local frog guru and a Friend of Moonee Ponds Creek

The Cambridge Gardens Estate Wetlands, just upstream of where Mickleham Road crosses the Moonee Ponds Creek, has long been a favourite frog watching site for me. On a good night in spring, my much loved quintet would be on-song. Right on cue at one hour past sunset the Whistling Tree Frogs would join the Common Froglets, Spotted Marsh, Pobblebonk and the endangered Growling Grass Frogs in a chorus of calls. So when asked to take the 2nd Strathmore Cubs out frog-spotting this was my chosen site - without hesitation!

The frogs prefer warm still nights with a hint of rain to come. As the 2012 spring was one of the driest on record I suspected the frogs wouldn't be out in high numbers - but it turned out we barely heard a frog on the night! With the help of a recording of frog sounds and images on the iPad we could see and hear the frogs that are usually there, providing the troop with some valuable lessons in frog identification.

We practised making recordings then set off around the wetland, pausing every so often in silence to listen intently. Eventually we heard a few Pobblebonk and Common Froglets and I rewarded the cubs for their tremendous patience with lollies (jelly frogs and snakes of course!).

The cubs, their siblings and parents voted the night a great success. If success is measured in one sure way it was hearing cries of ‘Please can we come back again?!’.

The group listens intently for the sounds of frogs

Fauna Location Sighted by

JANUARY

Growling Grass Frog WildwoodBridie Wetzel & Kevin Mahon

Tawny Frog-mouth Williams Rise, Sunbury Lachlan Wilson

Eastern Grey Kangaroos

Sunbury LandfillCassandra Borg & Roger Cook

Jewel Spider Calder Gateway, SunburyGreg Tyndall & Peter Tully

FEBRUARY

Wedge-tailed EagleWoodlands Historic Park, Greenvale

Vicki Catchpole Stephens

Brown Snake Riddell Road, Sunbury Geoff Goodisson

WombatKonagaderra Road, Oaklands Junction

Geoff Goodisson

MARCHBlack Falcon Craigieburn Jodi Jackson

Peregrine Falcon Coolaroo Melissa Doherty

Photo: Anna Lanigan

Restoring our woodlands in SunburyApproximately 10 hectares of parkland at Mt Holden, Sunbury will be restored to original woodland vegetation thanks to our new project in partnership with Sunbury Landcare Association. The extensive revegetation works will provide a range of benefits – from creating valuable habitat for wildlife, storing carbon from the atmosphere and providing shade for park users.

The works will launch the implementation of the Mt Holden Master Plan and contribute to the Department of Sustainability and Environment’s goal to fund the planting of two million trees across Victoria this year.

Two planting events are scheduled at the site in July and September – please see our Greening Calendar for details. For more information, contact Council’s Urban Biodiversity Officer, Melissa Doherty, on 9205 2466.

Fauna sightings

Make friends with a creekSpotlight on Friends of Upper Moonee Ponds Creek

After almost twenty active years, the Friends of Upper Moonee Ponds Creek group is still going strong with a core membership and many more people volunteering to help out at events. Through their revegetation and weed control projects, the Friends, together with Hume staff and Melbourne Water, have established thousands of indigenous plants.

In an effort to restore the native vegetation along Moonee Ponds Creek, around 1200 plants are planted each year over four planting days. Why not roll up your sleeves and join them and other Friends’ groups at their next planting days? You’ll meet new people, discover a new piece of Hume and get a couple of hours of worthwhile exercise. Free lunch included. Please see our Greening calendar for details.

For more information contact Melissa Doherty, Hume’s Urban Biodiversity Officer on 9205 2466 or visit www.hume.vic.gov.au/environmentgetinvolved

Friends of Upper Moonee Ponds Creek

6 LIVE GREEN WINTER 2013

Fauna Location Sighted by

JANUARY

Growling Grass Frog WildwoodBridie Wetzel & Kevin Mahon

Tawny Frog-mouth Williams Rise, Sunbury Lachlan Wilson

Eastern Grey Kangaroos

Sunbury LandfillCassandra Borg & Roger Cook

Jewel Spider Calder Gateway, SunburyGreg Tyndall & Peter Tully

FEBRUARY

Wedge-tailed EagleWoodlands Historic Park, Greenvale

Vicki Catchpole Stephens

Brown Snake Riddell Road, Sunbury Geoff Goodisson

WombatKonagaderra Road, Oaklands Junction

Geoff Goodisson

MARCHBlack Falcon Craigieburn Jodi Jackson

Peregrine Falcon Coolaroo Melissa Doherty

Greening Calendar

Photo: Lachlan Wilson, Tawny Frog-mouths, Sunbury

MAYSat 18 10.00am - 12.00pm

Friends of Holden Flora Reserve

Jackson Hill, Hammersmith Court Sunbury (Mel ref: 382 G10)

Sun 19 10.00am - 12.00pm

Friends of Malcolm Creek Grasslands

Cnr of Windrock Avenue and Creekwood Drive, Craigieburn (Mel ref: 386 H6)

Sat 25 10.00am - 12.30pm

Tullamarine Live Steam Society Bulla Miniature Railway

Off Green Street Bulla (Mel ref: 177 A7)

JUNESun 2 10.00am - 12.00pm

Friends of Emu Bottom Wetlands

Emu Bottom Wetlands Off Racecourse Road, Sunbury (Mel ref: 362 G7)

Sun 23 10.00am - 12.30pm

Friends of Blind Creek Blind Creek

End of Kerri Court Sunbury (Mel ref: 382 A2)

Sun 30 10.00am - 12.00pm

Friends of Sacred Kingfisher

Moonee Ponds Creek Westmeadows, Opp Circular Road (Mel ref: 6 B8)

JULYSun 7 10.00am - 12.00pm

Friends of Malcolm Creek

The Creek Approach, Craigieburn (Mel ref: 387 B6)

Sun 14 10.00am - 12.00pm

Sunbury Landcare, Mt Holden

Sunbury Landfill, 515 Riddell Road Sunbury (Mel ref: 361 D8)

Sat 20 10.00am - 12.00pm

Friends of Holden Flora Reserve

Jackson Hill, Hammersmith Court Sunbury (Mel ref: 382 G10)

Sun 28 10.00am - 12.30pm

National Tree Day The Tarnuk-end of Wright Street West Meadows (Mel ref: 5 G6)

Hume’s community planting days are free to attend. Just dress for the weather (hat, protective shoes, jacket) and we will supply the rest, including a free lunch!

Local landowners care for our plains Hume’s precious yet threatened grasslands and woodlands are being preserved thanks to 21 local landowners involved in our Caring for Our Plains program. We’d like to thank everyone involved in this successful program, which has made great progress in controlling noxious weeds and helping regenerate and protect native woodlands and grasslands.

By carefully following management plans, the works carried out over the past three years have controlled weeds such as Serrated Tussock, Boxthorn, Boneseed and Chilean Needle Grass, and fenced off protected woodlands and grasslands from grazing stock.

The program, funded by the Australian Government’s Caring for Our Country Grant Scheme, is now coming to an end but participating landowners have committed to keep up the good work!

For more information, visit www.hume.vic.gov.au/Land_Management and click on the Assistance and Resources tab, or contact Damien Harrison in Council’s Sustainable Environment Department on 9205 2376.

LIVE GREEN WINTER 2013 7

Bookings are essential as places are limited. To register please call 9205 2473 or email environment@hume.vic.gov.auFor workshop updates and a complete calendar of workshops visit www.hume.vic.gov.au

Environmental & Healthy Living Workshops

WHEN WHAT WHEREWed 15 May 6.30pm - 7.30pm Gardening with Vasili in Broadmeadows and Sunbury

Spring into gardening with TV and radio gardening personality Vasili Kanidiadis. The popular gardening guru will share his knowledge on plants and produce, culinary delights and answer questions.

Hume Global Learning Centre 1093 Pascoe Vale Road, Broadmeadows Bookings essential, call: 9356 6900

Thurs 23 May 6.30pm - 7.30pm

Sunbury Library 44 Macedon Street, Sunbury Bookings essential, call: 9356 6970

Tues 4 Jun 12.00pm - 1.00pm

Reduce Your Foodprint: Short films and discussion Watch some entertaining films and pick up ideas on how to reduce your household grocery bill, store food correctly and whip up delicious meals using leftover ingredients.

Hume Global Learning Centre 1093 Pascoe Vale Road, Broadmeadows Bookings essential, call: 9205 2473

Wed 5 Jun 6.30pm - 8.45pm Food from 6.30pm Movie at 7.00pm

Good Food Film Night Celebrate World Environment Day by enjoying short films about growing food and meet like-minded, passionate people. We’ll put on a free delicious locally grown dinner too!

Sunbury Youth Centre 51-53 Evans Street, Sunbury Bookings essential, call: 9205 2473

Fri 14 Jun 10.30am - 11.30am

Green Cleaning Join Katy Reed as she takes you through an affordable and environmentally friendly way to clean your home.

The Homestead and Learning Centre 30 Whiltshire Drive, Roxburgh Park (Melway: 179, G7) Bookings essential, call: 9205 2473

Wed 31 Jul 1.00pm - 2.00pm

Save Energy, Save MoneyPart 1: Understanding your energy bills.

The Homestead and Learning Centre 30 Whiltshire Drive, Roxburgh Park (Melway: 179, G7) Bookings essential, call: 9205 2473

Wed 28 Aug 1.00pm - 2.00pm

Save Energy, Save MoneyPart 2: Easy, low-cost ways to save energy at home.

This newsletter is printed on Revive Laser 100% recycled paper

Prefer an electronic copy?Help us save paper by letting us know if you would like to receive your Live Green newsletter by email. Please contact the Sustainable Environment Department on 9205 2473 or at environment@hume.vic.gov.au to provide comments, story and workshop ideas or to subscribe.

What an exciting first half of the year we’ve had with our community workshops! The series kicked off in February with our ‘Saving Money through Saving Energy’ workshop. A group of Arabic-speaking women and their interpreter examined their home energy use and learnt easy, low-cost ways to save energy and cut their bills.

In March, Hume’s U3A walking group enjoyed a highly informative walk and talk through Broadmeadows Valley Park, as part of the ‘Discover Hume’s Backyard’ campaign. Quite a few people commented that they’d never explored this site or known of its natural beauty, even though it’s so close by.

Both the Nocturnal Wildlife Photography and the Cheese Making workshops booked out very quickly. Be sure to book in for our workshops for the second half of the year by calling our Sustainable Environment Department on 9205 2473 or email environment@hume.vic.gov.au

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